Upright automatic player-piano.



L. W. SOUTHGATE.

UPRIGHT AUTOMATIC PLAYER PIANO. APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.1912.

1,1 18,961. Patented Dec.1,1914.

w Znessw- Ina/anion (fled/@702 8 771% W MW THE NORRIS PETERS c0., PHOT0-L!THO., WASHINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS w. sou'rnearn, or woncnsrnn, raassncnusnr'rs. Assienon TO vnnonrca M. KOHLER, WILLIAM B. nLLIson, AND RICHARD w. LAWRENCE, or NEW YORK,

N. Y., EXECUTORS OF CHARLES KGHLER, DECEASED.

UPRIGI-IT' AUTOMATIC PLAYER-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914;.

Application filed February 19, 1912. Serial No. 678,658.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs W. a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Upright Automatic Player- Piano, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to a detailed or modified arrangement of parts of the halfwidth automatic player piano described and claimed in an application for patent filed by me October 9, 1911, Serial No. 653,560 and specifically shown in Figure 7 thereof. In said application is shown and described what I believe to be the first half-width automatic player piano. This instrument comprises a set of strings divided into two sections arranged in different planes, a set of action units arranged in sections out of line with each other but substantially within the same width, and suitable operating devices therefor.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the main string frame is arranged in the interior of the instrument and the supplemental string frame at the rear of the instrument, the string frames thus being separated and both strings being faced toward the front and the two sections of the action units and the two sections of the operating pneumatics are arranged so that both sections of action units will strike to the rear. This modification is specifically claimed in this application for patentand is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Flgure 1 is a cross sectional elevation thereof.

Refe'ring to the drawing and in detail, A designates the piano casing made of substantially half the width of an ordinary piano casing, and BB designate two string frames arranged on beams C 1n the interior of the instrument and on opposite SOUTHGATE,

sides of a sounding board D.

- arranged so that both sections of action units will strike to the rear. The string frame B is mounted in front of a sounding board D in the interior of the instrument and the supplemental string frame D in front of a rear sounding board D. The strings are arranged to cooperate with the sounding board or boards by means of the usual lridge or bridges F-F.

G-G designate the set of piano action units. This set of piano action units as shown is divided into two sections arranged at the front and rear of the set of strings.

HH designate the set of operating pneumatics which is divided into two sections, each comprising two rows, the front section H being arranged to operate the front section G of the action units, and the rear section H being arranged to operate the rear section G of the action units. The pneumatics are arranged on arms extending out from two valve boxes II secured to which are primary valve boxes II.

J designates the spool box which contains the tracker L over which the note-sheetO is drawn by the usual take-up spool M.

Q designates the pneumatic motor for operating the note-sheet which is preferably in the same width as the tracker and below the pneumatics H.

R-R designate the operating treadles which are pivoted to a frame or bar 12, which frame is attached to the casing by links 13 pivoted to blocks so that the pedals can be swung up into the casing out of the way when the instrument is not to be used, as indicated in dotted lines.

A door S arranged. to slide in the front of the casing to cover or uncover the opening through which the pedals are swung out from and into the piano casing. Each pedal connects by a link 14; to a long arm 15 supported by a crank-arm 16 pivoted in brackets 17. The arms 15 and 16 are secured to operate one of a pair of feeders or bellows T-T. The feeders are arranged on a suitable wind-trunk. U connected to which is a storer V. The wind-trunk U connects by any of the usual regulators by means of suitable connections, regulator and valve box to the motor Q. A support or ledge Y is arranged at the front of the instrument to carry the operating buttons and levers cooperating with which is a fall board Z. The

operate the primary valves which control the operation of the front section H of the pneumatics, and the treble section 19 being connected to operate the primary valves which control the operation of the rear section H of the pneumatics. By these arrangements, a piano'player of substantially half-width relatively to the set of strings is provided which has the advantages set forth more at length in my original application for patent previously referred to.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thusfully described my invention, what desire to secure by Letters-Patent 1s:

1. A half-width upright automatic player piano, having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing in the same direction, a set of piano action units therefor di-' vided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings, one section of the action units being arranged between the sections of the strings, and operating :"'with'the other section of the strings, onesection of the action units being arranged devices for the action units.

2. A half-width upright automatic player piano, having a'set of strings divided into two separated sections facing in the same direction, a set of piano action units therefor divided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate between the sections of the strings, and operating pneumatics for the action units.

3. A half-width upright automatic player piano, having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing in the same direction, a setof piano action units therefor divided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings, one section of the action units being arranged betwen the sections of the strings, and a set of operating pneumatics for the action units divided into two sections, one section being arranged between the two sections of the strings, and the other at the front thereof.

4. A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, a set of piano action units therefor .divided into two sections so that one secand operating devices for the action units.

5. A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, a set of piano action units therefor divided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings, one section of the action units being arranged between the sections of the strings, and op erating pneumatics for the action units.

6. A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, a set of piano action units therefor divided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings, one section of the action units being arranged between the sections of the strings, operating devices for the action units,.a tracker arranged at the front of the instrument, a pair of pedals also arranged at the front of the instrument,

and a pair of feeders and a storer arranged at the rear of the instrument.

7 A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separatedsections facing toward the one section ofthe action units being ar-' ranged between the sections of the strings,

and operating devices for the action units.

8. A half-width upright automatic player piano havinga set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, a sounding board for each section of the strings, a set of piano action units therefor dividedinto two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings,

one section of the action units being ar- I ranged between the sectlons of the strings,

and operating pneumatics for the action units.

9. A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, a set of piano action units therefor divided into two sections so that one section of the action units will cooperate with one section of the piano strings and the other section of the action units will cooperate with the other section of the strings, one section of the action units being arranged between the sections of the strings, operating Pneumatics therefor divided into two sections to correspond to the action units, a tracker, an operating motor, and a pair of pedals arranged at the front of the set of strings, and a pair of feeders and a storer arranged between the sets of strings.

10. A half-width upright automatic player piano having a set of strings divided into two separated sections facing toward the front, the longer or base section of the strings being at an intermediate point of the section of the action units being arranged between the sections of the strings, and operating devices for the action units.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS W. SOUTH GATE.

Witnesses C. FORREST WESSON,

E. M. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of ratenta, Washington, D. 0." 

